There is no shortage of ways to peak-bag your way through New England! If you are looking for the various lists out there, you’ve come to the right place. All lists can be copied and pasted from this site (click through the links below) and edited through Google Spreadsheets, Microsoft Word, or whatever platform you use to keep track of it all. Looking for a more high tech way to keep everything in line? Be sure to check out Peak Bucket, a free online based site where you can keep all your stats in one place.
The following lists are many but not all of the options for peakbagging in New England. Below those options you’ll find some of the rules and frequently asked questions about hiking these lists.
*more lists coming soon!
FAQs:
Who created these lists and how do I apply?
The following are official Appalachian Mountain Club lists which has an annual awards ceremony and application process through their site.
NH (White Mountain) 4000 Footers (NH48)
New England 4000 Footers (NE67)
New England Hundred Highest (NEHH)
Northeast 111 (actually has 115 peaks to summit!)
Each list will have a link to the correct organization where you can apply for membership. If a list in not named above, it is not an official AMC list and you will be directed to the right source for additional information.
How quickly do I need to do each list?
For any list you can take as long as you’d like! Some hike a list in mere months (sometimes even quicker!) while others spend years or even close to a lifetime working on a list. If you are hiking a list specifically in winter, for example, you will need to track the official calendar winter start/end dates and times to count those hikes.
Do all the peaks have trails to them?
The majority of the hikes have official trails to them. If you are not skilled at off trail navigation, you’ll want to avoid a fair amount of the New England Hundred Highest peaks as some require hiking along herdpaths or navigating completely off trail using a map and compass. These hikes are indicated as being herdpath or bushwhack hikes when you go to the corresponding lists. With the NH 4000 Footer list, the only peak not officially on a maintained trail is Owl’s Head.
Why are some 4000-foot peaks not on the list?
To qualify for the list, a peak must rise 200 feet above any ridge connecting it to a higher neighbor. As a result, several notable peaks (including Clay, Guyot, and the south peak of Moosilauke) are not included on the lists, despite their height. Determinations are made according to the most current USGS topographical maps and peaks have been added to or deleted from the lists as newer maps became available. (By contrast, the Adirondack 46ers, which were developed using different criteria, do not change in response to updated surveys).
Do the lists change over time?
For the most straightforward lists like the 4000 footers, new technology makes it so changes are unlikely in the future. If you are working on Redlining the White Mountain Guide, for example, you can expect to see changes in the trails potentially from year to year.
Do I need to summit each peak one at a time?
No. You can hike multiple peaks in one outing as long as you hike from the start to end. This means you can hike 1 to 48 of the NH 4000 Footers in one continuous hike if you choose to! More information on this in the next question-
Can I use a mountain bike or another mode of transportation while bagging a peak?
You may not use a bike or motorized equipment (ATV, snowmobile, etc) on any official trail for it to count. You can sled or ski down a trail in winter. AMC has no official stance on this and it is kosher in the hiking community as long as you are aware of your surroundings and courteous while doing so. You may choose to ride a bike from a trailhead to another trailhead if you are without a carspot, but cannot do so on an official trail or wilderness path.